Weekend shopping and Working out

I purchased a couple of items from Garage, Old Navy and H&M recently (it seems like I only buy clothes from these 3 stores…but I don’t have much time to shop around these days, and these 3 shops ALWAYS have some cute options).
From Garage I picked up boyfriend cardigans and jeggings. The jeggings are perfect for fall, to tuck into boots – and the boyfriend cardigans are amazingly soft and comfy. Both denim and tops were buy one get one 50% off.

Boyfriend cardigan and Grey jeggings.
I think they’ll be perfect paired with the right accessories (scarves & necklaces) – they look a bit plain on their own.

From H&M I picked up THE perfect cross-body bag (a bargain at only CAD$19.99). I first saw it on Jean’s Extra-Petite Blog – and I loved the colour and size of it. I’ll be walking my kiddies to school and I need something light but cute to hold my wallet, keys, phone and sunglasses. Jean makes it look so elegant when she carries it as a clutch (my close-up picture is a bit smudgy because of kiddy fingerprints on my mirror- sigh!). I would LOVE to find flat-heeled tall boots in the same shade for fall.

At Old Navy I picked up a couple of tops. My favourite is the white cotton shirt – so summery and light – although summer is nearly over! I’m hoping the green drapey top holds up better than the peach one I bought from H&M (posted about here) – it got 2 holes in it after the first wash (on the delicate cycle and no dryer!!!). I love the shade, so I’m going to try and mend the 2 holes LOL – but it is SO fragile!

I’m really happy with this purchase as I feel that this is a good investment for our health (Hubby uses it on the nights that he doesn’t do P90x.) When the kids start school, I plan on joining either a yoga or pilates class (they have studios for both in our neighbourhood) and using the elliptical twice a week. I don’t like to overdo exercise, as I start dreading it – I just do the bare minimum to keep the weight off and keep it fun.

What are your favourite work out songs – I’m always looking for good ones! Do you have any go-to clothes stores that you always end up shopping at?

13 Comments

Lilly's Style

August 23, 2011 / 1:03 pm

Great finds! Love everything you bought. That cross-body bag is so cute and perfect size.I'm slowly building up my work out music list. Two I recently downloaded are "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO and "Moves like Jagger" by Maroon 5. I haven't really listened to the words of these songs…hope they aren't bad 🙂

Lilly – the words of the songs I listen to are sooooo unlike me LOL…but when the beat is good, who cares :-)Beautygirl24 – I love Camel – yet I always have a hard time finding good camel pieces…which is why I get so excited when I do!

I love your new buys! So very cute. I bought myself a black boyfriend cardigan last spring on markdown but now I'm thinking I need some of those jeggings to go with. 🙂 As you know, Old Navy is always an old stand by for me but a new favorite for me if Forever 21. The have sUch nIce bIg stOres wIth sO MUch tO chOOse frOM at great PrIces.Unfortunately I don't work out as often as I'd like, depending on my mood, Black Eyed Peas have some really great upbeat songs to get my body moving and you could always go with a bit of GNR.

HI Ella,You have featured two of my favorite things in this post: shopping and exercise. The boyfriend cardigan looks great on you- stylish and comfy. I love your cross body bag too (and the price!). Any cross body is a win-win in my mind- especially when you have the kiddies to hold on to. And I really like your Elliptical machine- at the goodlife gym that I go to all the machines are lifefitness and you can tell that it's a high quality machine. Your exercise regime makes me jealous, I wish that I can get my butt in gear more. I will use you as inspiration 🙂 Okay, so here is my current list of workout songs that keep me from falling asleep at the gym:Don't wanna go home – Jason DeruloElectric – Shawn Desman (nice looking local Toronto boy)S & M- Rihanna (love the lyrics)2 in the morning- GirliciousIce Ice baby – Vanilla Ice (oldie but goodie).thanks so much for the post 🙂

Lindy May – I love shopping at F21 too – their basics and accessories are so lovely…I think they're made better than H&M…I wish they'd open up a F21 at my local mall.MMC – It REALLY makes a difference having an exercise machine at home…no matter how much you procrastinate, you can still squeeze in a workout LOL! Thanks for the Ice Ice Baby suggestion – that will TOTALLY get me moving!!!Andi – I love the cross-body bag so much …it's so light but has enough space for all my essentials.Fash Boulevard – thanks, I've looked at your blog – it's great…I liked your Ashley Tisdale Gym Fash post – I'm always on the lookout for cute exercise gear 🙂

Tali!!! So glad to see you in the blogging world again :-)We have it in our basement (which has a concrete floor), so it definitely doesn't shake…but I think it should be ok for an apartment as well – since the elliptical movement is very smooth (unlike a treadmill, which ppl pound on!) Also, they gave us a treadmill floor mat – which provides a great barrier on the floor. This particular model is pretty noiseless too.I can't tell you how much easier it is to work out now that I have the machine at home 🙂 Definitely get the shop to deliver and install the machine though – it weighs more than 200lbs!

great post Ella! Here are some songs I recently put on my MP3Change of seasons by Sweet ThingHello – martin solveigGhetto love – Karl WolfBTW it's great to see that you workout but I just wanted to say that you look spectacular just as you are, (in a very Bridget Jones mood, but happy doesn't feel like watching it with me, might have to rope the sister into watching it with me.)